The Bridgeport Evening Farmer

Copper Companies Are Alleged To Have Obtained Ownership Through Fraud Under Congressional Grants In Michigan

Seattle, Wash., Nov. 18.—The feature of this morning's session of the American Federation of Labor was expected to be a resolution presented by Delegate Thomas Van Lear, demanding that Congress investigate the charges made on the floor of the convention that the Michigan copper companies obtained much of their land by fraud, under congressional grants of 60 years ago in aid of canals which never were built.

In the clashes between the administration and the progressives yesterday, the latter were not much outnumbered on some of the votes, but at no time was there any show of bitterness between the two elements in the convention and the discussion of the copper land grants was conducted in a good-natured way.

The threatened strike seems to draw the delegates together.

It is said that the story that John Mitchell was a candidate for president against Samuel Gompers, who was to be offered the post of historian and editor of the official journal, was originated for the purpose of benefiting the candidacy of John P. White, president of the United Mine Workers of America, for the second vice-presidency of the federation to succeed John Mitchell, who is retiring voluntarily.

The Socialists favored White and to bring administration forces to terms they put up Mitchell as a candidate for president. Today it was said White was not acceptable to the administration forces, their candidate being F. A. Rickart of New York.